The Woodlands Resort, An Ascend Collection Hotel

With its suburban highway address, parking lot entrance, and drab brick tower and wood panel facade, The Woodlands’ exterior paints an uninspiring picture -- but there's more to the hotel than meets the eye. The Woodlands is so named for its setting, which is the real star of the show here. Laurel Run stream and a forested grove run directly along the rear of the hotel, placing nature at its back doorstep.Opened in 1969 as a hotel, conference center, and resort in one, The Woodlands has had quite a heyday, known for its legendary nightclub scene and celebrity guests -- from Aerosmith to President George W. Bush. (At one point this property was Pennsylvania’s biggest consumer of booze.)These days, the hotel is in need of updates, but between the nightclub, lively Crescenzo’s Italian restaurant, events taking place at the conference center, and a happening evening vibe on the SKYY Vu Deck Bar, there’s still plenty of life in this joint. The Woodlands attracts lots of return guests -- largely vacationers and business travelers -- along with locals, to its dining, drinking, and partying outlets. Patrons hurl bread off the SKYY Vu deck to feed the ducks below, and sunsets over the stream are beautiful and relaxing. Between the tower and the seemingly never-ending hallways, the maze-like layout can be confusing -- but it sort of adds to the quirky character of this place. 

The Woodlands is located just off the Interstate 81 in Pensylvania’s Tri-State area of Wilkes-Barre -- around two hours from Philadelphia, New York City, and Harrisburg. It’s a quick two-minute drive down the highway to the Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs Casino and Racetrack, and 12 minutes from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Airport. The hotel offers free transfers to both, 24/7. There’s not a whole lot in the way of attractions in the immediate area, but some nearby highlights include the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza and Susquehanna Brewing Company, both about a 10-minute drive away. Wyoming Valley Mall and Arena Hub Plaza are popular shopping spots just a few minutes’ drive from the hotel, and Seven Tubs Nature Area and Kirby Park hiking trails can be found within five and 12 minutes of The Woodlands, respectively.

The hotel has 150 rooms, all decorated in a classic, dated style that combines heavy wooden furniture with carpets in dull hues and armchairs with '80s-style prints. Vintage wallpapers and matching antique-style wood furniture give Tower rooms some charm beyond their otherwise old-fashioned look. Remaining categories lack the Old-World character but are bigger and have balconies -- many offering beautiful nature views. Tower rooms are the most basic, accessed via an elevator from the lobby. Main rooms are located on either the first or second floors, overlooking the pool and courtyard areas; and Streamside rooms run along the rear of the property, directly overlooking the stream and woodland backdrop. While Main and Streamside rooms do not have elevator access, luggage assistance is on offer if required. All rooms come with free Wi-Fi, cable flat-screen TVs, Keurig coffeemakers, and white Belgian linens. Main and Streamside Rooms add refrigerators, microwaves, and balconies or patios. One-Bedroom Suites feature separate living areas with sleeper sofas (and kitchenettes in Streamside units). Streamside rooms also come in Deluxe categories, which are the best and largest room type on offer. These units also have big bathrooms with wide vanities and shower/tub combos featuring rain showerheads. Bathrooms are otherwise rather compact and plain, with little basins, plastic walk-in showers, and older hairdryers. The Bridal Suite has a two-person jetted tub. 

The Woodlands is packed with amenities designed to keep guests on-site, and many are popular with locals and visitors alike. For starters, there are two restaurants. Crescenzo’s Brick Oven Eatery and Espresso Bar offers casual indoor and open-air deck restaurant seating, plus a sports bar-like section with casual menu options to match, such as pizzas, burgers, and wings. The free buffet breakfast is served here. While fairly basic, it comprises a range of hot and cold items including waffles, pastries, bagels and breads, fruit, cereal, and cooked-to-order eggs. Authentic Japanese is on offer at Shogun Japanese Steakhouse Hibachi and Sushi Bar, which serves up teppanyaki, along with 50 different made-to-order sushi rolls. Room service is also available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. SKYY Vu Deck Bar is a lively open-air bar offering daily happy hours and bar snacks -- perched right over the stream that runs behind the resort. Live weekend evening entertainment is provided in the Streamside Lounge (right next to Crescenzo’s), and the hotel is home to a popular dance nightclub, Club Evolution -- open on weekends. While rather dated, the fitness center is filled with a good selection of weights and cardio equipment. There’s a seasonal outdoor pool, in addition to a heated indoor pool -- though it’s terribly dark and dismal -- plus an enormous 17,000-gallon hot tub that’s so big it’s much like a pool in itself. A lovely lawn area comes with some outdoor games, deck chairs, and fire pits overlooking the stream. The resort’s huge conference center spans 12,000 square feet of meeting space that can cater events of anywhere between 10 and 1,000 guests. On weekdays, free coffee and newspapers are provided in the lobby. Wi-Fi and parking are both free, and the hotel welcomes dogs for an additional daily fee.